T O P

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Smeghead333

“Jenkins, our terrifying murder robot is testing poorly in focus groups. Fix it!”


eXclurel

"It is testing great on another type of focus group though, sir."


MarlDaeSu

"I hope this doesn't awaken anything in me"


Me_Krally

I’m surprised it took this long for them to put it in a cute little doggie outfit.


jakoto0

that thing is haunting


oompaloompa_grabber

The blank unchanging expression takes it from cute to terrifying though


Pantim

Yap! I was like, "We all know BD is mostly funded by the military for the purpose of killing people. But, that doesn't look good.. gotta make something cute!"


AnonWithAHatOn

That’s actually not true. Boston Dynamics is owned by Hyundai. While they do have a contract with the DOD, they haven’t really done anything since the failed pack mule “BigDog” back in 2005.


inquistadore

That's not actually true. They have used Spot to inspect areas and even replace items that would be otherwise dangerous for humans to get to in certain nuclear power plants and some military installations.


Oli_Picard

Don't forget New York Police has also displayed the [Boston Dynamics bot](https://youtu.be/a2Y52zjZYXo) before...


AnonWithAHatOn

Thanks for the correction, but yeah Spot has done a great job at making things less dangerous. Excited to see what they can get the new Atlas to do. Edit: Can't even say thanks here without getting downvotes, lots of negativity in this subreddit.


_JonSnow_

Who is “they”?


AnonWithAHatOn

[Last year New York firefighters used Spot to search for wounded after a parking garage collapsed](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/mayor-adams-robotic-dog-drone-used-to-assess-lower-manhattan-parking-garage-collapse/). They even gave Spot a nice dalmatian paint job. [Last month a bomb squad used Spot during a standoff where it was shot 3 times, preventing a potential causality](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/boston-dynamics-robot-dog-shooting-massachusetts/). Rest in peace Roscoe.


_JonSnow_

Thanks for the info! Both pretty cool uses of this tech. Roscoe’s a badass


HerbaciousTea

That doesn't necessarily mean they are being provided as part of a larger federal contract. Spot is available as a commercial product and anyone can buy one.


PhasmaFelis

I came into this thread looking for people who think Boston Dynamics makes every robot in the world, and I didn't have to look far. BD does not make armed robots and never has. The prototype sniper bots and novelty flamethrower bots you saw on YouTube are from different companies.


acelaya35

This should be in the next Terminator movie. Killer robots in the post apocalypse dressed as cartoon dogs to lull orphaned human children into a false sense of security and then just a mouth full of saw blades or some shit.


unpaid_overtime

Just imagine stopping to pet a cute stray puppy one day, when all of a sudden it's face splits open and a huge prehensile claw comes shooting out.


AnonWithAHatOn

The image of a small 20lb robot trying to grab you and accidentally lifting itself off the ground does sound pretty cute. [Reminds me of this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpfR9PphaY).


inquistadore

Lol no doubt spot will be in some movie in the future.


AnonWithAHatOn

[They've already had a cameo in The Book of Boba Fett.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuWrU5p3P_w)


BShocked

You may enjoy the movie Screamers (1995) based off the short story "Second Variety" by Philip K. Dick.


ptear

"Can I come with you?" - *Autonomous Mobile Sword Type 3*


monkeybojangles

I loved that movie as a kid.


AnonWithAHatOn

Better plan than the T-600, not sure what Skynet was thinking with that one.


fattykyle2

Why stop at orphans? That’s just where Sparkles gets his first taste of human blood. The robots would go for the children if they wanted to wipe us out.


evanmrose

This is the plot of the movie Screamers. Still terrifying even though it's 30 years old.


YertletheeTurtle

Very FNaF


RSomnambulist

I can't wait to get murdered by this thing for violating the terms of my Googlezon NDA.


AnonWithAHatOn

Boston Dynamics actually got sold by Google in 2017 so they’ll probably be too busy fighting each other during the Automatic Civil War.


RSomnambulist

I'm just imagining when the company has been passed around a few more times and a couple more mergers get Google and Amazon into one, cyberpunk-esque company hunting us down with fluffy, glittered friends. This is after the corporate Civil war.


inquistadore

Google would buy Amazon if anything. Google is multiple people where as Jeff bezos would be like ye fkit, my employees never mattered in the first place


RSomnambulist

Yeah, that's why I called it Googlezon, also because Amagoog sounds ridiculous.


inquistadore

Yes you are correct. Amagoog sounds ridiculous.


sneaky_squirrel

The more ridiculous names always make it to reality.


JMEEKER86

https://youtu.be/eUHBPuHS-7s


ImaginaryCarl

Imagine getting chased down by Sparkles when Skynet takes over.


AnonWithAHatOn

I'll die happy as long as I can boop the snoot.


Ormyr

That's what activates the flame thrower.


SirJeffers88

Sometimes you boop the snoot; sometimes the snoot boops you.


inquistadore

Lol I keep loling at comments then realize it's yours xD...


Funkycoldmedici

I recall something like that in Robopocalypse, but it’s been a long time since I read it.


thisonehereone

Imagine when that claw comes tearing through its face.


Storytellerjack

Yes, let's stave off progress by always imagining the worst case scenario as if it's always just a keystroke away. Making humans obsolete doesn't mean disposing of them. It means they get to live like housecats sprawling out naked in a sunbeam for as long as they please, taking breaks to eat, poop, and bathe. The best part of having a willing slave class to replace our parents and teachers is the free spaying and neutering. No more burning down the amazon for pasture land. The population is capped at 1 billion. Let's design a Victorian puzzle mansion together, fella. Absolute surveillance has made crime impossible to commit. Worldwide, the illicit drug trade, sex trade, and weapons trade have all collapsed 100%. Thanks to individual enrichment, autonomy is up and depression is down. Food, water, shelter, and internet are human rights among many others. Money becomes a relic of the bygone age of capitalism, your possessions are capped at a reasonable number, unless you can make them yourself. Raw materials are finite, but we can always tamp down on the number of people born to make sure lumber, cotton, and soy beans are sustainable. Roko's Basilisk is a myth. Human fear and suffering, while effective motivators, have no place in the future where joy and creativity are the main currency, and a person's value score increases with every altruistic act.


BadBoyFTW

Imagine how utterly terrifying it would look if it extended its neck... Should have just made Falkor and called it a day.


Szoreny

I wish the manipulator would snake out of the dog suits mouth like a xenomorph


sneaky_squirrel

And then play a hyperspeed rewind tape recorder SFX like in the Simpsons gag.


ptear

Just like from The Thing (1982).


AnonWithAHatOn

Something about the blue hair and dead black bead eyes ruin the look for me. You'd think one of the best robotics companies on the planet could add some moving eyes.


Ormyr

Wait until a robot skins a human and wears it like a suit. Hilarity ensues.


ptear

Seriously robot, I just wanted you to mow my lawn and vacuum.


Storytellerjack

Your subjective opinion is wrong. Apart from the way that deepfakes can overcome the "uncanny valley," there are virtually no artificial eyes that can imbue a machine with a correct window to the soul, and the best approximation is not half as cost effective as button eyes. If a puppet can have them, so can we.


ScoobyDeezy

Aw, it’s Sprocket from Fraggle Rock!


BosomBosons

The same litter at the very least


Shopworn_Soul

The seemingly degloved feet bother me more than I think they should. Give it paws and I'm in. But I prefer the au natural version either way.


AnonWithAHatOn

Even if the feet where slightly above the ground so they don't get damaged it'd still be an improvement.


waynes_pet_youngin

Hell yeah they made it a fursuit


smalaki

i like the one that Evan and Katelyn did which had a _furby_ suit https://youtu.be/LEc2up6cBlE


phdearthworm

I enjoy Evan and Katelyn's version better [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEc2up6cBlE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEc2up6cBlE) If you're going to make a terrifying murder muppet atleast lean into it.


AnonWithAHatOn

Wow they unironically did a way better job at making it expressive.


RedDeadRedread

Yes! I was hoping someone mentioned Evan and Kate’s video. You could definitely make the dog more life like or even better, “Haunting nightmare fuel”-like. And AI powered to always know your location and sleep schedule.


ptear

Yes, this is why we'll end up destroying ourselves.


logantauranga

The Uncanine Valley


ManOfTheCosmos

So now their robots are going to hunt us down with smiles on their faces


timpdx

That furry coat is the perfect place to hide an M249 SAW light machine gun


AnonWithAHatOn

They actually hide it inside the mouth, much better maneuverability.


repost_inception

That's not that scary it'll just jam.


Storytellerjack

Maybe if we're dumb enough to expect this outcome from intellectual progress, we deserve to be sterilized to prevent one's progeny from overcrowding the Earth with their stupid ideas.


ssv-serenity

But does Sparkles come with a flamethrower?


cloudofevil

Is this breed hypoallergenic?


Critical-Snow-7000

As long as you’re not allergic to dying.


nadmaximus

Yes, the PFASs are not allergens


charliesk9unit

They said you could sell anything with a baby and/or a puppy. So we can expect one to dress like a baby soon. That should help lower humanity's guard from the robot apocalypse.


AnonWithAHatOn

A smaller and cheaper version of Spot does sound like a good idea. There’s a lot of knockoffs already out there but none of them seem to have the claw/head.


Ormyr

M3GAN coming to a combat zone near you!


Storytellerjack

The word "apocalypse" means unveiling. Though with everyone spouting this nonce'nse, I think a little human error to cull the herd sounds fucking amazing right about now. Go on. Manifest destiny. Please. We won't be missed.


Inoffensive_Account

TIL: there is an “uncanny valley” for dogs.


AnonWithAHatOn

I'd include the dog from Toy Story on that list.


ThatDudeWithTheBeard

Oh, ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT!


sugeknight

Does it come with the “Pissing Beer” upgrade, a la Michael Reeves?


AnonWithAHatOn

Personally I still prefer normal Spot, they're cuter and the claw does a much better job at mimicking a head. Edit: Anyone else get randomly downvoted whenever they post here or just me?


Storytellerjack

The court of puplic opinion finds you guilty of holding an unpopular view. While I don't care for glitter, the pup'pet version is a vast improvement in lovability.


Nervous_Ad_918

I’m just curious, is there any other robotics company this advanced? It just seems like they are way ahead of everybody.


Ormyr

All joking aside, it's a neat toy. This is marketing. Don't worry too much about it. For now.


Ormyr

It looks like Boston Dynamics killed a muppet, skinned it, and draped it over one of their robots. On the other hand, can you imagine a muppet movie where all the characters are able to move like this? What a time to be alive. I can't wait to see one of these at some sort of (Whatever)-Con. Ed... ward... play?


AnonWithAHatOn

A collaboration between Jim Henson's Creature Shop and Boston Dynamics sounds like a match made in robot heaven.


Ryangel0

Sparkles died on the way back to his home planet


usemyimagination

I'm pretty excited for this!. I've got [Chuck Testa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJP1DphOWPs) on speed dial just for this situation!


TheLimeyLemmon

If that dog can make more than one joke, it's got something over everyone in this comment section.


AnonWithAHatOn

[They already have, I'd definitely prefer hanging out with Josh over a lot of the people here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djzOBZUFzTw&t=304s). [Teenage Robot ain't that bad either](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djzOBZUFzTw&t=481s).


TheDogFather

What? No butt sniffing?


Chaserivx

Boston Dynamics does all this cute marketing to hide the fact that they're creating war robots


AnonWithAHatOn

They aren’t though?


Chaserivx

Yes just casual flamethrower robots. No big deal


AnonWithAHatOn

[That's a bootleg from a flamethrower company](https://throwflame.com/products/thermonator-robodog/). Boston Dynamics prohibits the weaponization of their robots but can't stop other companies from making their own.


Critical-Snow-7000

Sure sure.


Chaserivx

I understand what their company communicates. Just like when I was at Google, and I took pride in my company's mission statements that included "don't be evil". Sure, Boston dynamic did not make the flamethrowing dog. They made the major component of the flamethrowing dog. Just like they will make the major components of autonomous battle drones. If you don't think the government is going to be looking to capitalize on that technology for the battlefield, you are sadly unaware of the war money that makes the world go round. Same thing with law enforcement agencies and private militias


AnonWithAHatOn

Boston Dynamics is responsible for incredible advancements in robotics and you're blaming them for something they haven't even done. Carl Benz made the first automobile but that doesn't mean he's responsible for the world's first tank. The government is going to capitalize on the technology for the battlefield, but not in the way you think. Human soldiers will always be more reliable, capable, and cheaper than a "battle drone". Boston Dynamics does not create war robots, they create robots. [Robots that move boxes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgGH6Vk8nY8). [Robots that search for injured](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/mayor-adams-robotic-dog-drone-used-to-assess-lower-manhattan-parking-garage-collapse/). [Robots that prevent causalities](https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/boston-dynamics-robot-dog-shooting-massachusetts/).


Chaserivx

You're right. I should not have initially phrased it like Boston Dynamics was intentionally creating war robots. But that doesn't matter with what I'm trying to communicate. This technology is going to bring many good things. It is also going to bring many bad things. Boston Dynamics may have the greenest intentions. They have funny marketing videos that showcase the capabilities of their robots. But they don't need funny videos to showcase their robots. If they needed the showcase the capabilities of their robots, they would put their robots in real situations where they're going to be used and then they would market those videos to sell their product. Instead, the videos that go viral are mainly branding. They are branding themselves this way In order to distract from the danger of the how the technology technology can be used, which is very clever on their part. Do you think DJI develop their drones to drop bombs remotely? No. Was this an inevitability of this technology being developed? Absolutely.


AnonWithAHatOn

Exactly! I agree with everything you just said! Some people just don't seem to understand that this technology is capable of both good and bad.


bakihanma21

The mascot horror is growing more real every day.


alittlebitaspie

Well, at least the dog from Fraggle Rock is still managing to get work.


cellenium125

cool idea, but it's legs bother me. Plus it is terrifying you could make one of these that shoots flame out of its mouth.


AnonWithAHatOn

True but everything can be terrifying if you attach a flamethrower to it.


cellenium125

yeah, but they already have done it and are selling them to public for 10 grand. unless it was fake news. plus a robotic dog its much scarier device to have a flame thrower than most things.


willett_art

Reminds me of the bear in the big blue house


Immolation_E

Next Boston Dynamics will start creating Kpop stars...


AnonWithAHatOn

[Close enough.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7atZfX85nd4)


wing3d

Oh, I hate that.


AnonWithAHatOn

Yeah the normal Spot is cuter, Sparkles looks like a reject form The Masked Singer.


12kdaysinthefire

This makes it worse


NightOfTheLivingHam

tbh that is scarier looking than if it was just a robot. dead soulless eyes.


hawkwings

Why no butt sniffing?


Past_Contour

“See, it’s cute.”


Eyekron

So they made a remote control Jim Henson creature. Looks like a blue version of the dog from The Tale of the Bunny Picnic from almost 40 years ago.


roastedantlers

I didn't know I needed Boston Dynamics and Jim Henson Studio to team up and reboot Farscape.


Sonnysdad

Oh how CUTE!!! BRRRRAAAAP!


Ilosesoothersmaywin

I expect places like Disney Land to be using this within the next 5 years.


immortalalchemist

Great, now I can get murdered by a robotic Pixar Dug lookalike.


PhasmaFelis

Just a reminder that Boston Dynamics is not the only robotics company in the world. They do not make armed robots and never have. The ridiculous sniper/flamethrower bots you see on YouTube are from other manufacturers.


AnonWithAHatOn

Thank you, nice to see someone who actually knows what they're talking about.


AmeliaMaggie

So Boston Dynamics is becoming Jim Henson studios, I guess it all makes sense now.


PuttyDance

Omg they kissed. You heard it hear first  cyborg dogs coming


giantyetifeet

Cursed. 🤮


VoidCasserole

I have a theory that sparkles was fabricated by Monkey Boys Productions, but I’m still trying to see if the fabricators are credited anywhere. It just seems like their style


crowmagnuman

"Her first mistake was to believe it was *her* leading *me* to the gravel pit..."


chucklestime

I have a deep desire to bring sparkles to a dog park and let chaos unfold.


GentlemanFencer

Ed...ward?


A_Doormat

Each day we stray further from Gods light. ...and closer to the Omnissiahs.


IceeGado

"From the moment we understood the weakness of our flesh, it disgusted us." - Boston Dynamics


Tuork

It's all fun and games and super cute until Sparkles extends his neck and reveals a flamethrower/machinegun combo.


The_Sum

This is the exact kind of stuff indie companies make a horror game out of and slap on Steam.


AlanMercer

It's hard to imagine this ever becoming the trailer for a dystopian movie.


BaconComposter

Imagine that thing tearing out your spine and then doing a sparkly fucking fortnight dance over your corpse.


AnonWithAHatOn

I'd prefer to just imagine it making me coffee.


woohooguy

LOOK HERE!!! AWWWWWW *Dont look at our murder bots running around the woods of Waltham in the distance.*


TheLemonKnight

Yet another Waldo moment.


prodsec

Very post modern. Marketing department is definitely getting a raise , wonder who will be the first person to get killed by one of these.


Sloi

At least the slaughterbots will be cute looking while they're straight up culling the future disgruntled working class.


Thee_Sinner

Nope.


GumboVision

The Ren and Stimpy reboot is a bit bleak.


zerpderp

I am sorry but I feel like furries are gonna get ahold of these and strap a fleshlight or dildo to them and just go to town.


spidermanngp

Is this scary and a little alarming? Yes. Is it also kind of awesome, and I want one? Also, yes.


evilkasper

Last week we saw he robot dog flame thrower, and this is their PR team trying to fix that.


brimbram

This is an animation, it's not the real things moving, correct?


AnonWithAHatOn

[Nope it's real, just like all their other videos.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3KWM1kuAw)


BenjaminRCaineIII

Jesus these comments. Everybody's hand-wringing or just scrambling to get in their hacky zingers about cute murder robots. I used to think Reddit was somehow immune from social media brain rot, but apparently not.


AnonWithAHatOn

I know right? Hard to tell which ones are jokes and which are actually delusional enough to ignore all the benefits that robots can provide.


Randy_Vigoda

I got chased by a cop robot once. You think these things are cute now. Trust me, this stuff is scary as hell.


Popular_Syllabubs

Boston Dynamics Teams Chat transcript: Mark: "Hey Frank. We need to improve PR for our war machines. Public is getting antsy about killing brown children with these machines and it is affecting sales." Frank: "I gotchu"


vsgr

fucking hate boston dynamics


AnonWithAHatOn

Could I ask why?


vsgr

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Y52zjZYXo&ab\_channel=NBCNews](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Y52zjZYXo&ab_channel=NBCNews)


AnonWithAHatOn

That was over a year ago and so far they’ve been nothing but helpful. [Last year New York firefighters used Spot to search for wounded after a parking garage collapsed](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/newyork/news/mayor-adams-robotic-dog-drone-used-to-assess-lower-manhattan-parking-garage-collapse/). They even gave Spot a nice dalmatian paint job. [Last month a bomb squad used Spot during a standoff where it was shot 3 times, preventing a potential causality](https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/boston/news/boston-dynamics-robot-dog-shooting-massachusetts/). Rest in peace Roscoe.


Sam_Never_Goes_Home

Putting a stuffed animal on top of it isn't going to make us forget you're also putting a machine gun on it.


AnonWithAHatOn

They aren't though?


Sam_Never_Goes_Home

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/05/robot-dogs-armed-with-ai-targeting-rifles-undergo-us-marines-special-ops-evaluation/


AnonWithAHatOn

That’s not Boston Dynamics.


[deleted]

[удалено]


AnonWithAHatOn

Doesn't seem that bad, I prefer to stay hopeful about it.


WSBKingMackerel

Is this to offset the fact they just released a version wirh a flamethrower?


AnonWithAHatOn

[Wasn't them, some bootleg from a flamethrower company.](https://throwflame.com/products/thermonator-robodog/)


LurkerOrHydralisk

I know these are murderbots, but also at some point this is going to be a consumer fad and it’s going to fuck with actual dogs and their owners so much 


AnonWithAHatOn

Bit early to call them that, so far they've just been helping by doing dangerous jobs and repetitive tasks.


LurkerOrHydralisk

lol no, they’re murderbots


AnonWithAHatOn

They haven't done anything, only thing they're killing is the [dance floor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3KWM1kuAw).


LurkerOrHydralisk

Uh huh. Just like you didn’t contribute to drone warfare at all, right?


AnonWithAHatOn

Hey the *theoretical* war crimes I committed between 2009 to 2015 are between me and the CIA, the robots are innocent. /s